Wall Exterior Structure for Outer Wall Heat-Insulated Building and Wall Exterior Base, Lateral Furring Frame for Wall Exterior Material Installation and Method for Covering Wall Using Lateral Furring Frame, and Exterior Base Material and Outer Wall Using Exterior Base Material

ABSTRACT

In a wall exterior structure, an exterior base is formed of a number of vertical furring strips and a number of lateral furring strips, which are arranged in lattice to each other, each furring strip being a C-shaped channel material. A latch tongue, formed to an upright piece of each vertical furring strip, is latched to an upper through hole in each lateral furring strip. The upright piece is disposed at the position where a vertical furring strip intersects a lateral furring strip. The exterior base is provided by fixing the vertical furring strips on the surface of an outer heat insulating layer. An exterior material is hung to the exterior base so that an outer wall is made through a simple work. A ventilation space of about 5 mm, depending on the thickness of the vertical furring strip, is defined outside the outer heat insulating layer. The ventilation space is generally about 2 cm in thick. Hence, the reduced ventilation space can improve the heat insulation property of a building.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wall exterior structure for an outerwall heat-insulated building and to a wall exterior base. Furthermore,the present invention relates to a lateral furring frame for wallexterior material installation and to a method for covering walls usingthe lateral furring frame. Moreover, the present invention relates to anexterior base material and to an outer wall using the exterior basematerial.

In more detail, the present invention is made to mount a surfaceexterior portion to an outer wall via an outer heat insulated layer in abuilding such as a single-family house. For that purpose, the presentinvention relates to improving (1) a wall exterior structure and a basefor the wall exterior, (2) a lateral furring frame for wall exteriormaterial installation (metallic lateral furring frame) and a method forcovering a wall surface using the lateral furring frame, and (3) anexterior base material and outer wall using the base material.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

Conventionally, to construct an exterior structure, a surface exteriorportion is mounted to an outer wall surface, acting as the structuralframe of a building, via a suitable outer heat insulation layer.Moreover, a desired ventilation space is defined between the outer heatinsulation layer and the surface exterior portion. The existence of theventilation space provides high heat insulation and/or high airtightness to the surface exterior portion itself. Such a wallheat-insulated building is well known.

As to general buildings including surface exterior portions each inwhich an outer heat insulation layer is disposed to the above-mentionedouter wall surface via a ventilation space, the wall exterior structureis disclosed in Japanese Patent laid-open publication No. Tokkai2000-204688.

In the conventional wall exterior structure, plural wooden furringstrips are used. First, furring strips are arranged in parallel on thesurface of a structural panel spread over the outer wall surface of abuilding, via desired spacers, and plural longitudinal portions aresecurely fixed by means of metal fittings. By doing so, required rows offurring strips are prepared as exterior bases.

Next, with the furring strip rows left on the surface, respectivespacers are embedded in the outer heat insulation layer foamed in theconstruction site. An exterior structure is constructed through loadingouter materials, for example, exterior tiles or plate sidings, over thesurfaces of the remaining furring strip rows.

In this case, a ventilation space, having a gap equal to or near to thedepth of the furring strip rows, is defined between each exteriormaterial and outer heat insulation layer suspended over the surface of astructural panel. By doing so, an exterior structure having aventilation space is completed in the outer wall heat-insulatedbuilding.

In the case of the conventional structure, the furring strip is about 3cm in width and about 2 cm in thick. As a result, the gap of theventilation space is about 2 cm, corresponding to the thickness of thefurring strip row.

However, the conventional structure requires attachment of spacers ontoexterior surfaces of an outer wall acting as a structural frame andformation of foamed outer heat insulation layers at the constructionsite. Therefore, undesired problem is that the heat insulation externalwork on the construction spot is complicated and much hours of work areconsumed.

In such a case, respective furring strips, which support the wholeweight of a heat insulation structure such as an exterior material, arefixed via spacers to the surface exterior portion on a structural panel,by means of fittings such as screwed nails. Hence, the whole load actson the fittings via each furring strip. As a result, it is unavoidablethat a failure such as deflection of mounting shafts of the fittings maybe induced. For that reason, in sufficient consideration of the load dueto exterior materials, an exterior structure having predeterminedventilation space (ventilation gap) must be constructed within anallowable effective length of the mounting shafts of fittings.

In the illustration in the above-mentioned prior art document, the totaldimension (gap dimension) between each furring strip and the surface ofan outer wall acting as a structural frame is usually set to an actuallength of about 5 cm. For that reason, the effective thickness of thestructural panel is about 5 cm. If the effective thickness of thestructural panel is about 0.5 cm and the thickness of each furring stripis about 2 cm, the thickness of an outer heat insulation layer formedthrough the foaming process at the construction site ranges 2.5 cm to 3cm.

If the total dimension between the exterior surface and the furringstrip is set to a relative large value or the thickness of the furringstrip is set to a small value, the outer heat insulation layer can bethickened at least by the set value. By doing so, it is clear that theheat insulation performance of the building itself is more improved,thus providing an exterior structure more effectively.

However, the total dimension between the surface of the exterior portionand each furring step is generally limited to about 7 cm. Moreincreasing the total dimension leads to excessively lengthening theeffective shaft length of the fixing tool. The increased dimension leadsto easily deflecting the shaft and decreasing the overall strength, asdescribed preciously. Hence, the total dimension cannot be set to acritical value or more. Moreover, since the furring strip is made ofwood, a reasonable material strength must be usually reserved. Hence,the thickness of each furring strip cannot be reduced.

In such a case, when a foamed heat insulated panel is used as onestructural aspect of the outer heat insulation layer, the thickness ofthe outer heat insulation layer is limited to at most about 3 cm to 5 cmbecause the total dimension is limited due to the effective length ofthe shaft of a fixing tool. As a result, it is impossible to improve theheat insulation performance of a building by disposing outer heatinsulation layers having a more thickness than the critical thickness.

A furring strip in a standard unit set to a predetermined length(hereinafter, referred to as “standard lateral furring strip”) is oftenused as a furring strip for a wall exterior base constructing the wallexterior, particularly, as a horizontally arranged furring strip. Thestandard lateral furring strip is mounted to an outer wall acting as thestructural frame alone or is mounted via other furring strip (referredto as “a vertical furring strip” to distinguish clearly from “thestandard lateral furring strip”). The resultant structure is called anouter exterior material mounting base.

The standard lateral furring strip has protruded lines or engagementrails, running in parallel to both edges thereof. The outer exteriormaterial, for example, the recesses on the back side of an exterior tileare hooked to the engagement rails (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-openPublication No. Tokkai 2003-172012).

In such a case, on the ground of manufacture, the standard lateralfurring strip, which has the length longer than the distance between thecenter of a main column and the center of an intermediate column in theaxial or frame assembling structure of a building, may be set as astandard section. Alternatively, a predetermined length, which is anintegral multiple number of the center to center distance, in compliancewith Shaku (an old unit in Japanese measuring system) or a metric unit,may be set as a standard length. The standard lateral furring strips arearranged horizontally and continuously in line on the outer wall surfacewhile the ends are butting horizontally and longitudinally to eachother.

However, since the ends such as outer corners or windows are provided atmany places in an actual building, the horizontal widths are not fixed.Even if the standard furring strips, having a length larger than thecenter to center distance or having a length equal to the center tocenter distance, are used, the total length in arrangement does notmatch with the structural width. At the construction site, one side ofthe lateral furring strip may protrude as an extra portion from the endor may be short to the end.

Therefore, at the construction site, the extra portion is cut andremoved while the same material is spliced to the shortage. This makesit very complicated to perform working at the construction site andraises undesired problems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made to improve the above-mentioned previousproblems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a wallexterior structure for outer wall heat insulated buildings, wherein theexternal finish can be performed certainly and easily for the wholesurface of outer heat insulated outer wall at a construction site.Moreover, the present invention can stably latch the outer exteriormaterial at all times, can effectively reserve the proper strength of anouter exterior base, can increase reasonably the thickness of an outerheat insulated layer to be produced, and can improve the heat insulationperformance.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a wall exteriorbase for the outer wall heat insulated building, wherein respectiveouter exterior materials can be latched stably at all times in arelatively simplified structure.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a combination offurring strips of various types for wall exterior installation in anouter wall heat insulated building, wherein the cutting and removingworks and splicing and compensation are not required at a constructionsite so that good workability can be always established highly andeasily. In such a combination, when lateral furring strips having afixed length, i.e. standard lateral furring strips, to be mounted to anouter wall surface are combined, a redundant portion in length and ashort portion in length, which may occur because of the existence ofouter corners or windows on the outer wall surface, can be compensatedeffectively through a simple operation.

In order to achieve the above mentioned objects, a wall exteriorstructure (defined in claim 1) comprises vertical furring stripsarranged vertically and substantially in parallel on a surface of anouter wall on which an outer heat insulating layer is formed; lateralfurring strips suspended in lattice and horizontally intersecting withthe vertical furring strips; a furring strip frame, acting as anexterior base, including each vertical furring strip acting as an innerside and each lateral furring strip acting as an outer side; and anexterior material sustained to an engaged portion in a surface of eachlateral furring strip. The vertical furring strip including verticallatch portions is arranged at predetermined intervals at intersectionsbetween the vertical furring strip and the lateral furring strips. Thelateral furring strip including lateral latch portions paired with saidvertical latch portions. The furring strip frame engages each laterallatch portion corresponding to said lateral furring strip sustained tothe vertical furring strip, to each vertical latch portion in thevertical furring strip. A ventilation space corresponding to a width ofthe vertical furring strip is defined between the outer heat insulatinglayer and the lateral furring strip.

In the wall exterior structure, the outer heat insulating layer ispressed against the surface of said outer wall by the vertical furringstrips arranged on the outer wall surface (defined in claim 2).

In the wall exterior structure, the vertical furring strip has lowvertical rims erected at both ends thereof and the lateral furring striphas low lateral rims erected at both ends thereof. The lateral latchportion in a base surface between the lateral rims is paired with andsnapped into the vertical latch portion formed in a base surface betweenthe vertical rims. A gap of the ventilation space is set by the size ofrims protruded at the lateral latch portion. (defined in claim 3)

In the wall exterior structure, the lateral furring strips areorthogonally arranged in lattice with the vertical rims of the verticalfurring strips from the outside. The each lateral latch portion of thelateral furring strip is snapped into each vertical latch portion of thevertical furring strip by slidably guiding the lateral furring stripover the plane of the vertical rims. (defined in claim 4)

In the wall exterior structure, the gap of the ventilation space definedbetween the exterior base and the outer heat insulating layer is set to1 cm or less. (defined in claim 5)

According to the wall exterior structure for an outer wall heatinsulated building (defined in claims 1 to 5), the wall exteriorstructure can be easily constructed on the outer wall surface of abuilding. This feature allows the first to third objects to be achievedcertainly and effectively.

Moreover, according to another aspect of the present invention (definedin claim 6), a wall exterior base in an outer wall heat-insulatedbuilding, comprises vertical furring strips arranged vertically andsubstantially in parallel to an outer wall surface of a building andeach having low rims elected at both ends of each vertical furringstrip; and lateral furring strips horizontally intersecting verticalrims of each vertical furring strip and suspended in lattice and havingrims erected at both ends thereof. An exterior material is suspendedover the lateral erect rims of the lateral furring strip. The verticalfurring strip is disposed on said outer wall surface having a verticallatch portion corresponding to a position where the vertical furringstrip intersects the lateral furring strip. The lateral furring striphas a lateral latch portion corresponding to a position where thelateral furring strip intersects the vertical furring strip. The lateralfurring strips are orthogonally arranged in lattice over the plane ofrims of the vertical furring strip from the outside. The latch portionof the lateral furring strip is snapped into the latch portion of thevertical furring strip by slidably guiding the rims of the verticalfurring strip.

According to the wall exterior base for an outer wall heat insulatedbuilding (defined in claim 6), the wall exterior base can be easilyconstructed on the outer wall surface of a building. This feature allowsthe first to third objects to be achieved certainly and effectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention (defined in claim7), a lateral furring frame for wall exterior material installation inan outer wall heat-insulated building, comprises second vertical furringstrips arranged vertically and substantially parallel to an outer wallsurface; second standard lateral furring strips intersectinghorizontally and sustained in lattice to the second vertical furringstrips; and a combination of the second auxiliary extension furringstrip and the second standard lateral furring strip, acting as amounting base for exterior material suspension. The second auxiliaryextension furring strip is combined together with the second standardlateral furring strip and slidably inserted to the second standardlateral furring strip. In correspondence with a width in horizontaldirection of the outer wall surface, an end of the second auxiliaryextension furring strip is variably extended from an end in an elongateddirection of the second standard lateral furring strip.

In the lateral furring frame, various second standard lateral furringstrips having different standard dimensions are prepared and the secondauxiliary extension furring strips are combined compatibly to thevarious second short lateral furring strips. (defined in claim 8)

In the lateral furring frame, each of the second standard lateralfurring strip and the second auxiliary extension furring strip is formedof a shaped metal plate of steel plate, galvanized sheet iron, oraluminum, shaped through deformation processing such as roll forming,press forming, and extrusion. (defined in claim 9)

In the lateral furring frame, the length in lateral direction of thesecond auxiliary extension furring strip is adjusted arbitrarily andslidably with the second auxiliary extension furring strip combined withthe second standard lateral furring strip. (defined in claim 10)

In the lateral furring frame, the second auxiliary furring strip isslidably inserted squarely into the second standard lateral furringstrip and can be sled arbitrarily in the inserted state. (defined inclaim 11)

The lateral furring frame further (defined in claim 12) comprises slideregulation means, disposed on both ends of the second standard lateralfurring strip, to travel between the second standard lateral furringstrip and the second auxiliary extension furring strip or between thesecond vertical furring strip and the second auxiliary extension furringstrip and through the second standard lateral furring strip over adesired length range. The second auxiliary extension furring strip isinserted and sled into the second short lateral furring strip, within aregulation range of the slide regulation means.

In the lateral furring frame, each of the second standard lateralfurring strip and the second auxiliary extension furring strip has asubstantially U-shaped cross section to be slidable, with the secondstandard lateral furring strip and the second auxiliary extensionfurring strip mutually inserted. The each of the second furring striphas a furring base formed in a bottom portion in the U-shaped strip andrespective engagement portions for exterior material suspension,vertically arranged at both ends on the front side. (defined in claim13)

According to the lateral furring strip for wall exterior materialinstallation used for an outer wall heat insulated building (defined inclaims 7 to 13), the length in lateral direction of a lateral furringframe, that is, of a combination of a second standard lateral furringstrip and a second auxiliary extension furring strip, used for the outerwall exterior structure in a building, can be easily adjusted. In otherwords, the lateral length dealing with the outer corner or window in abuilding can be easily adjusted. This feature allows the first to thirdobjects to be achieved certainly and effectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention (defined in claim14), a method for covering wall surfaces with a lateral furring frame todispose a wall exterior material of an outer wall heat insulatedbuilding, comprises steps of using a lateral furring frame for outerexterior installation in any one of claims 7 to 13 (a lateral furringframe for outer exterior material installation in which a secondstandard lateral furring strip and a second auxiliary extension furringstrip are combined together); and disposing the lateral furring stripfor outer exterior material installation over the entire width of theouter wall surface through a single or plural second auxiliary extensionfurring strip, whereby the outer exterior material is suspended to thelateral furring frame.

The wall covering method using a lateral furring frame for wall exteriorinstallation for an outer wall heat insulated building (defined in claim14) allows the first to third objects to be achieved certainly andeffectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention (defined in claim15), a metallic wall exterior material base in an outer wall heatinsulated building, comprises third metallic vertical furring stripsarranged vertically and substantially in parallel to an outer wallsurface; third metallic standard lateral furring strips suspended inlattice to intersect horizontally the third metallic vertical furringstrips; and third metallic auxiliary extension furring strips slidablyinserted to the third metallic standard lateral furring strips. Thethird metallic standard lateral furring strips and the third metallicauxiliary extension furring strips act as an exterior material mountingbase for suspension. To suspend the third metallic standard lateralfurring strips to the third metallic vertical furring strips, each thirdmetallic vertical furring strips has brackets formed at predeterminedintervals. Each of the third metallic standard lateral furring stripshas through holes to engage a bracket at a corresponding intersection tothe third metallic vertical furring strip. A though hole in the thirdmetallic standard lateral furring strip is engaged to a bracket of thethird metallic vertical furring strip and the upper inner edge of thethrough hole is hung and suspended. To insert slidably the thirdmetallic auxiliary extension furring strip to the third metallicstandard lateral furring strip, the third metallic standard lateralfurring strip has a lateral cross section opened in the front side. Thethird metallic auxiliary extension furring strip, which has the crosssection substantially in common with the third metallic standard lateralfurring strip, is loosely mounted squarely to the third metallicstandard lateral furring strip.

In the metallic wall exterior material base, to regulate a sliding rangeof the third metallic auxiliary extension furring strip to the thirdmetallic standard lateral furring strip, a pair of stoppers butts bothends in horizontal cross direction of a bracket of the third metallicvertical furring strip. The bracket protrudes toward the front side viaa through hole for hanging in the third metallic standard lateralfurring strip and via a through hole for sliding in the third metallicauxiliary extension furring strip. The pair of stoppers is formed atboth inner ends of the through hole, for sliding, in horizontaldirection at predetermined intervals. (defined in claim 16)

The metallic wall exterior material base further comprises adownward-pointing guide fin formed at the corresponding upper inner edgeand between a pair of stoppers. The pair of stoppers is provided to athrough hole for sliding in said third metallic auxiliary extensionfurring strip. The guide fin contacts slidably to an upper inner surfaceof a bracket in the third metallic vertical furring strip. (defined inclaim 17)

In the metallic wall exterior material base, the through hole forsliding, formed in the third metallic auxiliary extension furring strip,is rectangular in horizontal and longitudinal direction. The guide finis formed downwardly at the middle portion of the upper inner edge inthe through hole. A pair of stoppers is formed at the lower portion onboth the horizontal sides of the through hole, such that each of thestoppers overlaps the lower portion of a bracket of the third metallicvertical furring strip. (defined in claim 18)

According to the metallic wall exterior base for an outer wall heatinsulated building (defined in claims 15 to 18), the lateral length of awall exterior base used for an outer wall exterior structure of abuilding can be adjusted easily. That is, the lateral length of acombination of a third metallic vertical furring strip, a third standardlateral furring strip, and a third auxiliary extension furring strip canbe adjusted easily. In other words, the lateral length dealing with theouter corner or window in a building can be easily adjusted. Thisfeature allows the first to third objects to be achieved certainly andeffectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention (defined in claim19), a metallic wall exterior material base in an outer wall heatinsulated building, comprises a rail unit frame produced by assemblingin a lattice form, fourth metallic vertical rail (fourth metallicvertical furring strip) arranged vertically and substantially inparallel to an outer wall surface; fourth metallic standard lateral rail(fourth metallic lateral furring strip for bridging) horizontallysuspended in lattice with third metallic vertical rails; and fourthmetallic vertical rail for bridging (fourth metallic short furring stripfor bridging) slidably inserted into the fourth metallic standardlateral rail in its longitudinal direction. Exterior materials aresustained to the fourth metallic standard lateral rails and the fourthmetallic short lateral rail for bridging.

In the exterior material base further comprises fourth metallicextension adjusting lateral rails (fourth metallic extension adjustinglateral furring strips) for adjusting the unit width by extendinghorizontally and longitudinally the fourth metallic standard lateralrail acting as a part of the rail unit frame. Exterior materials aresuspended with the fourth metallic extension adjusting lateral rail,together with the fourth standard lateral rail and the fourth metalliclateral rail for bridging. (defined in claim 20)

In the exterior material base, the brackets are formed to the fourthmetallic vertical rail acting as part of the rail unit frame verticallyand at predetermined intervals. The fourth metallic standard lateralrail acting as part of the rail unit frame includes engagement holeseach in which a bracket is inserted at an intersection to the fourthmetallic vertical rail. The bracket in the fourth metallic vertical railis inserted into an engagement through hole in the fourth metallicstandard lateral rail and engages the upper inner edge of the engagementthrough hole. (defined in claim 21)

In the exterior material base, a bracket in the fourth metallic verticalrail is used in common to the fourth metallic standard lateral rail forbridging to support the upper edge of an engagement through hole in thefourth metallic standard lateral rail. The bracket being supported onthe front side of the engagement through hole, whereby the fourthmetallic short lateral rail for bridging is coupled to the fourthmetallic standard lateral rail. (defined in claim 22)

In the exterior material base, a bracket in the fourth metallic verticalrail is used in common to the fourth metallic extension adjustinglateral rail to support the upper edge of an engagement through hole inthe fourth metallic standard lateral rail. The bracket being supportedon the front side of the engagement through hole, whereby the fourthmetallic extension adjusting lateral rail can extend the fourth metallicstandard lateral rail. (defined in claim 23)

In the exterior material base, a nearly L-shaped bracket in verticalcross section is formed by cutting and electing a bottom portion of thefourth metallic vertical rail. Latch pieces pointing inward and downwardare formed in the bracket. The latch pieces can be snapped into thelatch hole formed in the fourth metallic standard lateral rail. Theupper edge of the engagement through hole formed in the fourth metallicshort lateral rail for bridging is slidably sandwiched between thebottom portion of the fourth metallic vertical rail and the latch piece.(defined in claim 24)

In the exterior material base, the upper edge of the engagement throughhole formed in the fourth metallic short lateral rail for bridging isslidably sandwiched between the bottom portion of the fourth metallicvertical rail and the latch piece. (defined in claim 25)

According to the metallic wall exterior base for an outer wall heatinsulated building (defined in claims 19 to 25), the exterior base usedcovering the outer wall exterior structure of a building can beconstructed easily. This feature allows the first to third objects to beachieved certainly and effectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention (defined in claim26), an outer wall using a wall exterior material base in an outer wallheat insulated building, the wall exterior material comprises fourthmetallic vertical rails (fourth metallic vertical furring strips)arranged horizontally and substantially in parallel to an outer wallsurface; and fourth metallic standard lateral rails (fourth metallicstandard lateral furring strips) suspended horizontally and in latticeto third metallic vertical rails. A rail unit frame in lattice is formedof the fourth metallic vertical rails and the fourth metallic standardlateral rails and acts as a wall exterior material base. An exteriormaterial is suspended to the fourth standard lateral rails and thefourth metallic bridging short lateral rail, which construct the railunit frame.

The outer wall further comprises fourth metallic extension adjustingvertical rail (fourth metallic extension adjusting vertical rail) thatcan extend the fourth metallic standard lateral rail to adjust the unitwidth of the rail unit frame.

According to the outer wall using wall exterior base for an outer wallheat insulated building (defined in claims 26 to 27), an outer exteriorbase used for covering the outer wall of a building can be constructedeasily. This feature allows the first to third objects to be achievedcertainly and effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view, in perspective, schematicallyexplaining a wall exterior, structure including an outer heat insulationlayer, disposed on an outer wall surface of a building, according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the whole of an exterior basemounting the outer wall heat insulating structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, partially disassembled,explaining a mutual relationship between a vertical furring strip and alateral furring strip arranged over the exterior base.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state where alateral furring strip is latched at the middle portion in vertical of avertical furring strip.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state where alateral furring strip is latched at an end in width of a verticalfurring strip.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a formation aspect of a verticalfurring strip.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a formation aspect of the verticalfurring strip.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view illustrating a formation aspect of alatch portion in the vertical furring strip.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a formation aspect of the lateralfurring strip.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a formationaspect of the lateral furring strip.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view illustrating a formation aspect of thelateral furring strip.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an engagementbetween an exterior base and an outer exterior material.

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a second standard lateral furringstrip to mount an exterior material to an outer wall of a building,according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view partially illustrating the second standardvertical furring strip.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating thesecond standard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating a second auxiliary extensionfurring strip combined with the second standard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating asecond auxiliary extension furring strip combined with the secondstandard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 18 is a front view partially illustrating a second standard lateralfurring strip used to mount an exterior material.

FIG. 19 is a plan view partially illustrating a second standard lateralfurring strip used to mount an exterior material.

FIG. 20 is a front view partially illustrating a second standard lateralfurring strip slid to the second auxiliary extension furring strip.

FIG. 21 is a plan view partially illustrating a second standard lateralfurring strip slid to the second auxiliary extension furring strip.

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view explaining a mutualrelationship between the second standard lateral furring strip and thesecond auxiliary extension furring strip.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view explaining an aspect of the secondstandard lateral furring strip in an outer corner on the outer wall.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view explaining an aspect of the secondstandard lateral furring strip in an window in the outer wall.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating anexterior tile, or an exterior material, suspended to the second standardlateral furring strip.

FIG. 26 is a front view illustrating a lateral furring strip of thefirst embodiment as a reference of the second standard lateral furringstrip.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged front view partially illustrating the secondstandard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating thesecond standard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 29 is a front view explaining the second auxiliary extensionfurring strip used to as a lateral furring strip.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating thesecond auxiliary extension furring strip.

FIG. 31 is a front view illustrating the second vertical furring strip.

FIG. 32 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view partiallyillustrating the second vertical furring strip.

FIG. 33 is a front view illustrating a second auxiliary extensionfurring strip combined with a second lateral furring strip.

FIG. 34 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the secondauxiliary extension furring strip combined with the second lateralfurring strip.

FIG. 35 is a front view explaining the lateral furring step in FIG. 29used to the window in the outer wall.

FIG. 36 is a front view illustrating a third standard lateral furringstrip combined with a third auxiliary extension furring strip to suspendan exterior material to an outside wall of a building embedding a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a front view illustrating the third vertical furring strip.

FIG. 38 is a side view illustrating the third vertical furring strip.

FIG. 39 is a front view illustrating the third standard lateral furringstrip.

FIG. 40 is an enlarged front view partially illustrating the thirdstandard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 41 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating thethird standard lateral furring strip.

FIG. 42 is an enlarged front view illustrating the third auxiliaryextension furring strip.

FIG. 43 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view illustrating thethird auxiliary extension furring strip.

FIG. 44 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the thirdstandard lateral furring strip hung and latched to the third verticalfurring strip.

FIG. 45 is an enlarged perspective view explaining the third standardlateral furring strip and the third auxiliary extension furring stripcombined and mounted with the third vertical furring strip.

FIG. 46 is a front view illustrating the third standard lateral furringstrip and the third auxiliary extension furring strip combined andmounted with the third vertical furring strip.

FIG. 47 is a vertical cross-sectional view explaining the third standardlateral furring strip and the third auxiliary extension furring stripcombined and mounted with the third vertical furring strip.

FIG. 48 is a front view illustrating a relationship between the thirdvertical furring strip and the standard lateral furring strip and thethird auxiliary extension furring strip at the windows in the outerwall.

FIG. 49 is a lateral cross-sectional view illustrating the relationshipbetween the third vertical furring strip, the third cut furring stripand the third auxiliary extended furring strip at a window in the outerwall.

FIG. 50 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an exteriortile, or an exterior material, suspended to the third standard furringstrip.

FIG. 51 is a front view illustrating a rail unit frame mounted to anouter wall of a building, according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention, the rail unit frame being formed of a combination ofa fourth vertical rail, a fourth standard lateral rail and a fourthshort lateral rail for bridging are combined together, with an exteriormaterial partially sustained.

FIG. 52 is a front view illustrating a rail unit frame wherein a fourthvertical rail, a fourth standard lateral rail and a fourth short lateralrail for bridging are combined together.

FIG. 53 is a front view illustrating a relationship between the railunit frame and the short lateral rail for bridging.

FIG. 54 is an enlarged front view illustrating a relationship between alateral rail for unit formation and a short lateral rail for bridging,engaged to the vertical rail.

FIG. 55 is an enlarged front view illustrating a short lateral rail forbridging, mounted to the lateral rail for unit formation in a verticalrail.

FIG. 56 is an enlarged perspective view, partially disassembled,explaining the standard lateral rail for unit formation mounted to avertical rail.

FIG. 57 is an enlarged perspective view, partially disassembled,explaining a relationship between a standard lateral rail for unitformation and a short lateral rail for bridging.

FIG. 58 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an exteriormaterial suspended to the rail unit frame.

FIG. 59 is an enlarged front view illustrating a bracket portion in thevertical rail unit.

FIG. 60 is an enlarged front view illustrating an engagement throughhole and a latch hole in a standard lateral rail for unit formation.

FIG. 61 is a front view illustrating a short lateral rail for bridging.

FIG. 62 is an enlarged front view illustrating a lateral rail forextension adjustment in the rail unit frame disposed adjacent to awindow.

FIG. 63 is an enlarged perspective view explaining a relationshipbetween a standard lateral rail for unit formation and a lateral railfor extension adjustment.

FIG. 64 is a front view illustrating the lateral rail for extensionadjustment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wall exterior structure for an outerwall heat insulated building and a wall exterior base; lateral furringstrips for wall exterior installation and a method for covering a wallusing the lateral furring strips; and a metallic exterior base and anouter wall using the metallic exterior base. First, second, third andfourth embodiments of the above-mentioned aspects will be explained blowin detail and specifically by referring to the attached drawings.

The first, second third and fourth embodiments are explained as follows:

In the first embodiment, a wall exterior structure including a wallexterior base is generally explained as a most basic outer wall exterioraspect of the present invention. Chiefly, the whole structure includinga vertical furring strip and a lateral furring strip is shown in FIGS. 1to 12.

The second and third embodiments relates to a wall exterior structureincluding a wall exterior base and a metallic wall exterior base,according to the present invention. In explanation, a standard lateralfurring strip (a second standard lateral furring strip in the secondembodiment and a third metallic standard lateral furring step in thethird embodiment) is used together with an auxiliary extension furringstrip (a combination of a second standard lateral furring strip and asecond auxiliary extension furring step in a furring frame acting as anexterior base and a combination of a third metallic standard lateralfurring strip and a third metallic auxiliary extension furring step in afurring frame) to adjust the lateral width of a lateral furring strip.By doing so, in a building construction, a variation in lateral width ofan outer corner or window in a structural frame can be eliminated. Suchstructures are shown in FIGS. 1 to 35 (corresponding to the secondembodiment) and FIGS. 36 to 50 (corresponding to the third embodiment),respectively.

In the fourth embodiment, the aspects of the embodiments 1 to 3 areaggregated wholly. A new wall exterior structure (using a fourthvertical furring strip, a fourth standard length lateral furring strip,and a fourth auxiliary extension furring strip) will be explained byreferring to FIGS. 51 to 64.

The configurations, functions and effects of the first to fourthembodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 64 are mutually overlapped partially.However, to increase unambiguously the understanding of respectiveconfigurations, the common drawings are not omitted.

In the first embodiment, reference numerals in single- to double-digitnumber are attached in the corresponding drawings. In the secondembodiment, reference numerals in the 100 level are attached except thereference numerals attached to the elements corresponding to elements inthe first embodiment. In the third embodiment, reference numerals in the200 level are attached, except the reference numerals attached to theelements corresponding to elements in the first embodiment. In thefourth embodiment, reference numerals in 300 level are attached exceptthe reference numerals attached to the elements corresponding toelements in the first embodiment. By doing so, explanation will beomitted as much as possible and simplified. Thus, respective points areclarified possibly.

Embodiment 1

First, according to the first embodiment, a wall exterior structure anda wall exterior base, shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, will be explained below.

FIGS. 1 to 12 show various elements in an outer wall heat insulatedbuilding according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a single familyhouse to which an outer wall portion A is heat insulated according tothe wooden axial assembling construction method. The single family houseincludes a structural base 1 having its lower side embedded in theground, a basic frame 2 fixed on the structural base 1 and from which aweather board 3 is extended out under a heat insulation structure, andplural main columns 4 and plural studs 4 a planted on the basic frame 2.

The outer wall portion A is formed of a structural panel 5 (being astructural frame in a broader sense) overlying a required surfacebetween the main column 4 and the stud 4 a and an outer heat insulationlayer 6 disposed over the structural panel 5. An exterior base 7according to the present invention is disposed to the outer surface ofthe structural panel 5.

In that case, a corrosion protection layer, e.g. a corrosion resistantresin film (not shown), is coated on the back surface of each verticalfurring strip (or, each metallic vertical furring strip) 8 of theexterior substrate 7 disposed on the outer heat insulation layer 6 toavoid corrosion due to the direct contact of the outer heat insulationlayer and the vertical furring strip.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 12, the exterior base 7 includes a frame, whichis formed of plural vertical furring strips 8 and plural lateral furringstrips 14. The vertical furring strips 8 are arranged vertically andsubstantially in parallel over the surface of the outer wall of thepanel 5 at predetermined intervals. Each vertical furring strip 8 isformed by shaping a metal plate, for example, a high corrosive resistantmetal plate such as steel plate, galvanized steel plate, or galvanicsteel plate, or aluminum plate. The lateral furring strips 14 arearranged horizontally in lattice from the outside and between thesurfaces of the vertical furring strips 8 at predetermined intervals.Particularly, the lateral furring strips 14 are arranged and held inlattice with the vertical furring strips 8 such that the space in thevertical direction is relatively small. Each lateral furring strip 14 isformed through shaping a metal plate of the same property.

Each vertical furring strip 8 may be subjected to, for example,deformation processing such as roll shaping, press shaping, andextrusion shaping. Relatively low erect rims 9, 9 are formed along bothlongitudinal ends (or the right and left ends vertically in installationstate) of each vertical furring strip 8. Vertical latch portions 8 a areformed on the corresponding bottom surfaces of intersections (to bedescribed later) between rims 9 and 9 at predetermined intervals.

Similarly, each lateral furring strip 14 is subjected to the deformationprocessing. Erect rims 15 a and 15 b, being relatively high, arerespectively formed at both edges in the longitudinal direction (or theupper and lower edges in the lateral direction in suspended state) ofeach lateral furring strip 14. The lateral latch portions 14 arespectively paired with the vertical latch portions 8 a are formed inthe bottom corresponding to an intersection (to be described later)between the rims 15 a and 15 a at predetermined intervals.

An aspect between each vertical latch portion 8 a and each lateral latchportion 14 a will be described below. Specifically, a lateral latchportion 14 a in the lateral furring strip 14 is snapped and suspendedinto the corresponding vertical latch portion 8 a in the verticalfurring strip 8 disposed on the outer wall surface of the panel 5. Afterthe mounting, a grilled frame acting as an exterior base 7 can beobtained where each vertical furring strip 8 is disposed internally (onthe panel 5) while each lateral furring strip 14 is disposed externally(at the outer side).

In other words, as depicted in FIGS. 2 to 12, particularly, in FIG. 8,each vertical furring strip 8 is a relatively long furring strip, whichhas a width of 4 to 5 cm. Each of the erect rims 9 and 9 has a height of1 cm or less, e.g. a few millimeters. In order to receive certainly andeffectively a lateral furring strip 14 at a corresponding position alongthe erect rims 9 and 9, lateral receiving seats 10 and 10 are formed atpredetermined intervals. Each receiving seat 10 has a step 10 a furtherprotruded upward from the edge by several mm.

The longitudinal length (in the vertical direction in a mounted state)of each vertical furring strip 8 is for example, 45 to 50 cm, being asubmultiple of the length referenced by a building to be constructed.Nail holes 11 are opened in the middle in width of the bottom of thevertical furring strip 8 at predetermined intervals, e.g. at an intervalof 15 cm. Latch portions 8 a are formed in the middle in widthcorresponding to the portions (except the holes 11) intersected with thelateral furring strips 14 at predetermined intervals, e.g. at aninterval of 7 to 8 cm.

In this case, as understood from FIGS. 3 to 5, the vertical latchportion 8 a is formed by partially cutting and pulling up relativelywidely a nearly middle portion in width of a bottom of a verticalfurring strip 8. In the latch portion 8 a, an erect piece 12 having atongue piece 12 a is formed at the upper edge thereof. A latch tongue 13is formed by partially opening downward the upper portion of the erectpiece 12.

In order to provide good latching condition effectively after mounting,each vertical furring strip 8 is fixed to the panel 5 through the hole11 by means of a fastener through the spring fastener 19, which isinflated slightly outward to provide a required resilient property.Here, each vertical furring strip 8 is securely screwed to the panel 5through the hole 11 by means of a screw nail 20.

As described clearly later, the resilient force provided by the springfastener 19 works on the outer heat insulation layer 6 via each verticalfurring strip 8 to be mounted. This means that the outer heat insulationlayer 6 is sandwiched with high pressure. A hard synthetic resinmaterial, with a relatively rich resilience, e.g. nylon resin, is usedas a resilient series material for the spring fastener 19, can easilyblock the thermal conduction from a metal vertical furring strip 8. Bydoing so, a suitable thermal bridge measure is taken to the outer heatinsulation layer 6.

As understood in FIGS. 2 to 12, particularly, FIG. 11, each lateralfurring strip 14 is a relatively long furring strip (in the longitudinaldirection in a sustained condition) having a width (in horizontaldirection in a sustained condition) of 4 to 5 cm. Each of the uppererect rim 15 a and the lower erect rim 15 b is set to a height of 1 cmor more. For example, with the erect rim of a height of 2 cm or more,the hook/latch portion 16 a, 16 b is formed, by folding back upward theedge of the erect rim 15 a, 15 b.

In that case, the exterior material 21 is hung and sustained in theerect rims 15 a, 15 b and the hook/latch portion 16 a, 16 b, asdescribed later. Thus, it is desirable that the exterior material 21hold relatively and somewhat loosely to the rims 15 a, 15 b and thelatch portions 16 a, 16 b to deal with possible vibrations and otherstresses.

The longitudinal length (in the horizontal direction in a sustainedcondition) of each lateral furring strip 14 is, for example, 1.8 to 2 m,being a sub-multiple of the length referenced by a building to beconstructed. Lateral latch portions 14, respectively paired withvertical latch portions 8 a, are arranged in width on the bottom thereofat predetermined intervals, e.g. at an interval of 50 cm. Similarly, thelateral latch portion 14 a has a lower through hole 17 formed bypartially cutting away the lower side (in a sustained condition) of thebottom, and a upper through hole 18 formed by partially cutting away theupper portion (in a sustained condition).

The width (in a suspended state) of the lower through hole 17 is set tobe equal to or more than the width of the erect piece 12 in the verticalfurring strip 8. The lower through hole 17 receives the whole of theerect piece 12. Similarly, the upper through hole 18 has the size thatcan receive the latch tongue 13 of the vertical furring strip 8.

In mounting, the back surface of the lateral furring strip 14 is oncecontacted, at a slightly upper position, with the erect rims 9, 9 of thevertical furring strip 8. Thus, the lateral furring strip 14 having thelateral latch portion 14 a is temporarily placed over vertical furringstrip 8 having the vertical latch portion 8 a. In the temporalplacement, the bent edge of the lower erect rim 15 of the lateralfurring strip 14 is pressed down until it butts against the steps 10 a,10 b of the lateral receiving seats 10, 10. The receiving erect piece 12acting as the vertical latch portion 8 a of the vertical furring strip 8is received into the lower through hole 17 acting as the lateral latchportion 14 a of the lateral furring strip 14. Similarly, the latchtongue 13 is resiliently press latched into the upper through hole 18.The latch portion 8 a is snapped into the latch portion 14 a. The rigid,stable coupling can be obtained at the point where the vertical furringstrip 8 intersects with the lateral furring strip 14. Thus, a requiredexterior base 7 can be constructed.

The exterior base 7, where vertical furring strips 8 and lateral furringstrips 14 are arranged in lattice, can previously prepared in parts in afactory and then be carried in a construction site. Alternatively, theexterior base can be completely assembled at a construction site. Ineither case, the vertical furring strips 8 are arranged equally andhorizontally along the lateral furring strips 14. Each lateral furringstrip 14 is latched via the latch portions 8 a and 14 a. However, thelateral furring strip can deal with types of exterior materials 21sustained in the lateral furring strip 14. The exterior materials 21,for example, exterior tiles, can be used corresponding to the number ofintervals of latch portions 8 a in a vertical furring strip 8. Moreover,when the exterior material 21 is, for example, an exterior panel,exterior tiles can be used corresponding to the number of intervals ofthe latch portions 8 a in the vertical furring strip 8, which is smallerin number than intervals according to positions corresponding to theheight of the exterior panel.

Moreover, the exterior base 7 is fixed to the outer heat insulationlayer 6 while the vertical furring strips 8 are disposed internally (oron the side of the panel 5 and the outer heat insulation layer 6) andthe lateral furring strips 14 are disposed externally (on the outside).The vertical furring strips 8 can press the outer heat insulation layer6 against the panel 5.

In the exterior base 7, as seen in FIG. 12, exterior materials, herein,exterior tiles 21, are hung and sustained to the upper and lower latchportions 16 a and 16 b, each being bent upward, in the lateral furringstrip 14. In this case, joints in vertical direction of the joints 22formed between exterior tiles 21 are previously filled with backupmaterials and thus being cement plastered. However, as to joints inhorizontal direction, the bottom itself of the lateral furring strip 14can be used as a backup material.

A heat insulation panel of closed-cell foamed phenol series resin andhaving high heat insulation performance, for example, is generally usedfor the heat insulation layer 6. However, because an acid catalyst isused for the phenol series resin, the outer heat insulation layer 6exhibits acid. Acid tends to corrode easily the metallic verticalfurring strips 8, thus resulting in a failure of the durability of theexterior base 7.

However, in the first embodiment, a corrosive protection layer of acorrosive resistant resin film is coated on the back surface of thevertical furring strip 8. By doing so, an harmful effect due to the useof the metallic vertical furring strip 8 can be avoided certainly andpreviously so that a high heat insulation performance can be easilyobtained.

The exterior base 7 is disposed on the outside of the outer heatinsulation layer 6. Thus, a desired ventilation space 23, which has arelatively narrow gap, can be defined between the outer heat insulationlayer 6 and an exterior material, e.g. an exterior title 21, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12.

In the first embodiment, the ventilation space 23 can be set to be a gapof about 1 cm or less, particularly, about 5 mm. When the firstembodiment is assembled using common metal fittings, the gap can bereduced to about ¼, compared with a gap of about 2 cm in theconventional structure. As a result, the difference between the gap anda total length of about 7 cm of the exterior components of a building,that is, redundant portion of about 1.5 cm, can be used for the outerheat insulation layer 6. Thus, the outer heat insulation layer 6 can bethickened to about 6.5 cm from 3 to 5 cm in the conventional structureso that the heat insulation performance can be improved dramatically.

Second Embodiment

Next, a wall exterior structure embedding the second embodiment of thepresent invention and a lateral furring strip for wall exteriorincluding the wall exterior base will be explained by referring to FIG.13 to FIG. 35.

The second embodiment belongs to the same line as the first embodimentand has so much in common with the first embodiment. Hence, theexplanation becomes complicated. In the second embodiments shown inFIGS. 13 to 35, like numerals are attached to the same elements as thosein the first embodiment. Thus, the explanation is simplified. The numberof 100 is added to the corresponding numerals of main elements.

In the third embodiment, like numerals are attached to the same elementsas elements in the first and third embodiments and the explanation issimplified. The number of 200 is added to the corresponding numerals ofmain elements.

In the second embodiment shows FIGS. 13 to 35, a metallic lateralfurring strip frame 100 a is formed of plural second vertical furringstrips 124 (hereinafter merely referred to as “vertical furring strips124”), plural second standard lateral furring strips 124 (hereinaftermerely referred to as “standard lateral furring strips 101”), and asecond auxiliary extension furring strip 102 (hereinafter merelyreferred to as “auxiliary extension furring strip 102”). Each secondvertical furring strip 124 corresponds to the vertical furring strip 8acting as the exterior base 100. Each second vertical standard lateralfurring strip 101 is suspended to each vertical furring strip 124 and isattached to the exterior material 21. Each second auxiliary extensionfurring strip 102 can be selectively inserted slidably into the standardlateral furring strip 101 to adjust the longitudinal length(corresponding to the horizontal width in a mounted state) of thestandard lateral furring strip 102.

Both the vertical furring strips 124 and the standard lateral furringstrips 101 are assembled in a lattice form. The vertical furring strips124 are arranged vertically and in parallel at relatively broadintervals. The standard lateral furring strips 101 are arrangedhorizontally and in parallel at relatively narrow intervals. Theauxiliary extension furring strip 102 is slidably insertedlongitudinally into the standard lateral furring strip 101 to obtain thelateral furring strip frame 100 a.

Since each standard lateral furring strip 101 has its fixed length, thesuspension range of the exterior material 21 (the suspension effectivewidth in a mounted state) is specified. This cannot deal with the widthof an outer corner or window, varied at construction sites.

In the lateral furring strip frame 100 a of the second embodiment, theauxiliary extension furring strip 102 is slidably protruded out from theend of the standard lateral furring strip 101. This operation allows thetotal length of both furring strips or the suspension effective width ofthe lateral furring strip frame 100 a to be adjusted variably.

Third Embodiment

Next, a wall exterior structure according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention and a wall exterior base thereof will be explained byreferring to FIGS. 36 to 50.

In the third embodiment shows in FIGS. 36 to 50, a metallic rail unitframe 200 a is formed of fourth vertical rails (vertical furring strips)201 (hereinafter merely referred to as “vertical rails 201”), pluralthird standard lateral rails for unit formation (unit formation standardlateral furring strips) 202 (hereinafter merely referred to as “standardlateral furring strips 202 for unit formation”), plural third bridgeshort lateral rails (short lateral furring strips for bridging)(hereinafter merely referred to as “short lateral rails 203 forbridging), and plural third extension adjustment lateral rails (lateralfurring strips for extension adjustment) 204 (merely referred to as“lateral rails 204 for extension adjustment”). Each fourth vertical rail201 corresponds to the vertical furring strip 8. Each third standardlateral furring strip 202 is suspended to the vertical rail 201 and isattached to the exterior material 21. Each third short lateral rail 203is selectively mounted to the standard lateral rail 202. Each fourthlateral rail 204 is selectively suspended to the short lateral rail 203and is sidable longitudinally (horizontally in a mounted state).

The vertical rails 201 and the standard lateral rails 202 are combinedin a lattice state to construct a lattice rail unit frame 200 a. Thevertical rails 201 are arranged vertically and in parallel at relativelybroad intervals. The standard lateral rails 202 are arrangedhorizontally and in parallel at relatively narrow intervals. That is,the standard lateral rails 202 are suspended and attached to thevertical rails 201 to assemble the rail unit frame 200 a.

In the third embodiment, the lateral rail 204, engaged to the standardlateral rail 202 and the short lateral rail 203 for bridging, isslidably extended out from the end of the short lateral rail 203. Thetotal length of both the rails 203 and 204, or the suspension effectivewidth of the rail unit frame 200 a itself, can be adjusted variably.

That is, the short lateral rail 203, attached to the standard lateralrail 202, can reserve the longitudinal length or horizontal length ofthe standard lateral rail 202 to some extent.

In other words, the end (here, the right end) of the standard lateralrail 202 can be protruded out to a required length.

Therefore, in the lateral rail 212, the total length in the horizontaldirection of the standard lateral rail 210 and the short lateral rail211 or the entire length in the horizontal direction of the rail unitframe 201 can be arbitrarily adjusted. This can easily compensate thelength lacking due to outer corners and windows.

Forth Embodiment

A wall exterior structure according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention and a wall exterior base thereof will be explained byreferring to FIGS. 51 to 64.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 51 to 64, a rail unit frame 301in lattice constructing an exterior base includes plural fourth metalliclateral rails (lateral furring strips) 302 (hereinafter merely referredto as “lateral rails 302”), plural fourth metallic standard lateralrails (standard lateral furring strips) 310 (hereinafter merely referredto as “standard lateral rails 310”), plural fourth metallic shortlateral rails for bridging (short lateral furring strips for bridging)311 (hereinafter merely referred to as “short lateral rails 311 forbridging”), and plural fourth metallic lateral rails for extensionadjustment (lateral furring steps for extension adjustment) 312(hereinafter merely referred to as “lateral rails 311 for extensionadjustment”).

The vertical rails 302 and the standard lateral rails 310 are arrangedin lattice. The vertical rails 302 are arranged vertically and inparallel at relatively broad intervals. The standard lateral rails arearranged horizontally and in parallel at relatively narrow intervals. Inthis case, the lattice-like rail unit frame 301 is constructed as shownin FIGS. 51 to 53 and FIGS. 54 and 55.

As shown in FIGS. 56 to 61 and FIG. 64, the short lateral rail 311bridges the standard lateral rails 312. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 62and 63, the lateral rail 312 extends to adjust the finish width of eachstandard lateral rail 310 (the detailed structure will be describedlater).

The standard lateral rail 310, the short lateral rail 311, and thelateral rail 312, (to be described later in detail), are used to suspendthe exterior material 323.

Each of the rails 302, 310, 311, and 312 is made of a metal, e.g. ametal steel plate having good corrosion resistance, such as galvanizedsteel plate, galvanic steel plate, which is subjected to deformationprocessing such as roll forming, shaping, and press shaping.

Each of the rails 302, 310, and 311 may be a standard rail set to arequired length. As shown in FIGS. 54 to 56, the vertical rail 302, forexample, has a base plate 303 having through holes 304, erect rims 305and 305, and rail seats 306 and 306. The through holes 304 are arrangedat a predetermined interval of 15 cm and allow passage of screws orscrewed nails 322, which securely fix rails to the structural frame orcolumns in the fourth embodiment. Each of the erect rims 305 and 305 isformed through bending outward in low level both ends in width of thebase plate 303 to define a ventilation space (to be described later).The rail seats 306 and 306 are formed in the same plane longitudinallyalong the rims 305, 305 to receive the standard lateral rail 310.

Here, each of the rails 310, 311 and 32 has substantially sameconfiguration as that in the third embodiment. In the fourth embodimentshown in FIGS. 51 to 64, reference numerals in the third embodiment arerepresented by the order of 300 (for example, the standard lateral rail210 is represented as the standard lateral rail 310). The function andeffect of the elements are substantially identical and hence theduplicated explanation will be omitted.

1. A wall exterior structure comprising: vertical furring stripsarranged vertically and substantially in parallel on a surface of anouter wall on which an outer heat insulating layer is formed; lateralfurring strips suspended in lattice and horizontally intersecting withsaid vertical furring strips; a furring strip frame, acting as anexterior base, including each vertical furring strip acting as an innerside and each lateral furring strip acting as an outer side; and anexterior material sustained to an engaged portion in a surface of eachlateral furring strip; said vertical furring strip including verticallatch portions arranged at predetermined intervals at intersectionsbetween said vertical furring strip and said lateral furring strips;said lateral furring strip including lateral latch portions paired withsaid vertical latch portions; said furring strip frame engaging eachlateral latch portion corresponding to said lateral furring stripsustained to the vertical furring strip, to each vertical latch portionin said vertical furring strip; wherein a ventilation spacecorresponding to a width of said vertical furring strip is definedbetween said outer heat insulating layer and said lateral furring strip.2. The wall exterior structure defined in claim 1, wherein said outerheat insulating layer is pressed against the surface of said outer wallby said vertical furring strips arranged on said outer wall surface. 3.The wall exterior structure defined in claim 1, wherein said verticalfurring strip has low vertical rims erected at both ends thereof andsaid lateral furring strip has low lateral rims erected at both endsthereof; and wherein said lateral latch portion in a base surfacebetween said lateral rims is paired with and snapped into said verticallatch portion formed in a base surface between said vertical rims; andwherein a gap of said ventilation space is set by the size of rimsprotruded at said lateral latch portion.
 4. The wall exterior structuredefined in claim 3, wherein said lateral furring strips are orthogonallyarranged in lattice with said vertical rims of said vertical furringstrips from the outside; and wherein each lateral latch portion of saidlateral furring strip is snapped into each vertical latch portion ofsaid vertical furring strip by slidably guiding said lateral furringstrip over the plane of said vertical rims.
 5. The wall exteriorstructure defined in claim 1, wherein the gap of said ventilation spacedefined between said exterior base and said outer heat insulating layeris set to 1 cm or less.
 6. A wall exterior base in an outer wallheat-insulated building, comprising: vertical furring strips arrangedvertically and substantially in parallel to an outer wall surface of abuilding and each having low rims elected at both ends of each verticalfurring strip; lateral furring strips horizontally intersecting verticalrims of each vertical furring strip and suspended in lattice and havingrims erected at both ends thereof; wherein an exterior material issuspended over the lateral erect rims of said lateral furring strip;said vertical furring strip disposed on said outer wall surface having avertical latch portion corresponding to a position where said verticalfurring strip intersects said lateral furring strip; said lateralfurring strip having a lateral latch portion corresponding to a positionwhere said lateral furring strip intersects said vertical furring strip;said lateral furring strips orthogonally arranged in lattice over theplane of rims of said vertical furring strip from the outside; whereinsaid latch portion of said lateral furring strip is snapped into saidlatch portion of said vertical furring strip by slidably guiding saidrims of said vertical furring strip.
 7. A lateral furring frame for wallexterior material installation in an outer wall heat-insulated building,comprising; second vertical furring strips arranged vertically andsubstantially parallel to an outer wall surface; second standard lateralfurring strips intersecting horizontally and sustained in lattice tosaid second vertical furring strips; and a combination of said secondauxiliary extension furring strip and said second standard lateralfurring strip, acting as a mounting base for exterior materialsuspension; said second auxiliary extension furring strip combinedtogether with said second standard lateral furring strip and slidablyinserted to said second standard lateral furring strip; wherein incorrespondence with a width in horizontal direction of said outer wallsurface, an end of said second auxiliary extension furring strip isvariably extended from an end in an elongated direction of said secondstandard lateral furring strip.
 8. The lateral furring frame defined inclaim 7, wherein various second standard lateral furring strips havingdifferent standard dimensions are prepared; and wherein said secondauxiliary extension furring strips are combined compatibly to saidvarious second short lateral furring strips.
 9. The lateral furringframe defined in claim 7, wherein each of said second standard lateralfurring strip and said second auxiliary extension furring strip isformed of a shaped metal plate of steel plate, galvanized sheet iron, oraluminum, shaped through deformation processing such as roll forming,press forming, and extrusion.
 10. The lateral furring frame defined inclaim 7, wherein the length in lateral direction of said secondauxiliary extension furring strip is adjusted arbitrarily and slidablywith said second auxiliary extension furring strip combined with saidsecond standard lateral furring strip.
 11. The lateral furring framedefined in claim 10, wherein said second auxiliary furring strip isslidably inserted squarely into said second standard lateral furringstrip and can be sled arbitrarily in the inserted state.
 12. The lateralfurring frame defined in claim 11, further comprising slide regulationmeans, disposed on both ends of said second standard lateral furringstrip, to travel between said second standard lateral furring strip andsaid second auxiliary extension furring strip or between said secondvertical furring strip and said second auxiliary extension furring stripand through said second standard lateral furring strip over a desiredlength range; and wherein said second auxiliary extension furring stripis inserted and sled into said second short lateral furring strip,within a regulation range of said slide regulation means.
 13. Thelateral furring frame defined in claim 7, wherein each of said secondstandard lateral furring strip and said second auxiliary extensionfurring strip has a substantially U-shaped cross section to be slidable,with said second standard lateral furring strip and said secondauxiliary extension furring strip mutually inserted; and wherein each ofsaid second furring strip has a furring base formed in a bottom portionin the U-shaped strip and respective engagement portions for exteriormaterial suspension, vertically arranged at both ends on the front side.14. A method for covering wall surfaces with a lateral furring frame todispose a wall exterior material of an outer wall heat insulatebuilding, comprising steps of: using a lateral furring frame for outerexterior installation in claim 7 (a lateral furring frame for outerexterior material installation in which a second standard lateralfurring strip and a second auxiliary extension furring strip arecombined together); and disposing said lateral furring strip for outerexterior material installation over the entire width of the said outerwall surface through a single or plural second auxiliary extensionfurring strip, whereby said outer exterior material is suspended to saidlateral furring frame.
 15. A metallic wall exterior material base in anouter wall heat insulated building, comprising: third metallic verticalfurring strips arranged vertically and substantially in parallel to anouter wall surface; third metallic standard lateral furring stripssuspended in lattice to intersect horizontally said third metallicvertical furring strips; and third metallic auxiliary extension furringstrips slidably inserted to said third metallic standard lateral furringstrips; said third metallic standard lateral furring strips and saidthird metallic auxiliary extension furring strips acting as an exteriormaterial mounting base for suspension; wherein, to suspend said thirdmetallic standard lateral furring strips to said third metallic verticalfurring strips, each third metallic vertical furring strips has bracketsformed at predetermined intervals; each of said third metallic standardlateral furring strips having through holes to engage a bracket at acorresponding intersection to said third metallic vertical furringstrip; wherein a though hole in said third metallic standard lateralfurring strip is engaged to a bracket of said third metallic verticalfurring strip and the upper inner edge of said through hole is hung andsuspended; wherein, to insert slidably said third metallic auxiliaryextension furring strip to said third metallic standard lateral furringstrip, said third metallic standard lateral furring strip has a lateralcross section opened in the front side; said third metallic auxiliaryextension furring strip, which has the cross section substantially incommon with said third metallic standard lateral furring strip, isloosely mounted squarely to said third metallic standard lateral furringstrip.
 16. The metallic wall exterior material base defined in claim 15,wherein, to regulate a sliding range of said third metallic auxiliaryextension furring strip to said third metallic standard lateral furringstrip, a pair of stoppers butts both ends in horizontal cross directionof a bracket of said third metallic vertical furring strip, said bracketprotruding toward the front side via a through hole for hanging in saidthird metallic standard lateral furring strip and via a through hole forsliding in said third metallic auxiliary extension furring strip, saidpair of stoppers being formed at both inner ends of said through hole,for sliding, in horizontal direction at predetermined intervals.
 17. Themetallic wall exterior material base defined in claim 15, furthercomprising a downward-pointing guide fin formed at the correspondingupper inner edge and between a pair of stoppers, said pair of stoppersbeing provided to a through hole for sliding in said third metallicauxiliary extension furring strip, and wherein said guide fin contactsslidably to an upper inner surface of a bracket in said third metallicvertical furring strip.
 18. The metallic wall exterior material basedefined in claim 15 wherein said through hole for sliding, formed insaid third metallic auxiliary extension furring strip, is rectangular inhorizontal and longitudinal direction; and wherein said guide fin isformed downwardly at the middle portion of the upper inner edge in saidthrough hole; and wherein a pair of stoppers is formed at the lowerportion on both the horizontal sides of said through hole, such thateach of said stoppers overlaps the lower portion of a bracket of saidthird metallic vertical furring strip.
 19. A metallic wall exteriormaterial base in an outer wall heat insulated building, comprising, arail unit frame produced by assembling in a lattice form, fourthmetallic vertical rail (fourth metallic vertical furring strip) arrangedvertically and substantially in parallel to an outer wall surface;fourth metallic standard lateral rail (fourth metallic lateral furringstrip for bridging) horizontally suspended in lattice with thirdmetallic vertical rails; and fourth metallic vertical rail for bridging(fourth metallic short furring strip for bridging) slidably insertedinto said fourth metallic standard lateral rail in its longitudinaldirection; wherein exterior materials are sustained to said fourthmetallic standard lateral rails and said fourth metallic short lateralrail for bridging.
 20. The exterior material base defined in claim 19,further comprising fourth metallic extension adjusting lateral rails(fourth metallic extension adjusting lateral furring strips) foradjusting the unit width by extending horizontally and longitudinallysaid fourth metallic standard lateral rail acting as a part of said railunit frame; and wherein exterior materials are suspended with saidfourth metallic extension adjusting lateral rail, together with saidfourth standard lateral rail and said fourth metallic lateral rail forbridging.
 21. The exterior material base defined in claim 19, whereinsaid brackets are formed to said fourth metallic vertical rail acting aspart of said rail unit frame vertically and at predetermined intervals;and wherein said fourth metallic standard lateral rail acting as part ofsaid rail unit frame includes engagement holes each in which a bracketis inserted at an intersection to said fourth metallic vertical rail;and wherein the bracket in said fourth metallic vertical rail isinserted into an engagement through hole in said fourth metallicstandard lateral rail and engages the upper inner edge of saidengagement through hole.
 22. The exterior material base defined in claim21, wherein a bracket in said fourth metallic vertical rail is used incommon to said fourth metallic standard lateral rail for bridging tosupport the upper edge of an engagement through hole in said fourthmetallic standard lateral rail; said bracket being supported on thefront side of said engagement through hole, whereby said fourth metallicshort lateral rail for bridging is coupled to said fourth metallicstandard lateral rail.
 23. The exterior material base defined in claim21, wherein a bracket in said fourth metallic vertical rail is used incommon to said fourth metallic extension adjusting lateral rail tosupport the upper edge of an engagement through hole in said fourthmetallic standard lateral rail; said bracket being supported on thefront side of said engagement through hole, whereby said fourth metallicextension adjusting lateral rail can extend said fourth metallicstandard lateral rail.
 24. The exterior material base defined in claim22, wherein a nearly L-shaped bracket in vertical cross section isformed by cutting and electing a bottom portion of said fourth metallicvertical rail; and wherein latch pieces pointing inward and downward areformed in said bracket; and wherein said latch pieces can be snappedinto said latch hole formed in said fourth metallic standard lateralrail; and wherein the upper edge of said engagement through hole formedin said fourth metallic short lateral rail for bridging is slidablysandwiched between the bottom portion of said fourth metallic verticalrail and said latch piece.
 25. The exterior material base defined inclaim 23, wherein said upper edge of said engagement through hole formedin said fourth metallic short lateral rail for bridging is slidablysandwiched between the bottom portion of said fourth metallic verticalrail and said latch piece.
 26. An outer wall using a wall exteriormaterial base in an outer wall heat insulated building, said wallexterior material comprising: fourth metallic vertical rails (fourthmetallic vertical furring strips) arranged horizontally andsubstantially in parallel to an outer wall surface; and fourth metallicstandard lateral rails (fourth metallic standard lateral furring strips)suspended horizontally and in lattice to third metallic vertical rails;wherein a rail unit frame in lattice is formed of said fourth metallicvertical rails and said fourth metallic standard lateral rails and actsas a wall exterior material base; wherein an exterior material issuspended to said fourth standard lateral rails and said fourth metallicbridging short lateral rail, which construct said rail unit frame. 27.The outer wall defined in claim 26, further comprising fourth metallicextension adjusting vertical rail (fourth metallic extension adjustingvertical rail) that can extend said fourth metallic standard lateralrail to adjust the unit width of said rail unit frame.